Mark Chalon Smith’s Picks

PROFESSIONAL

“The Man Who Came To Dinner,” South Coast Repertory: SCR seems to hit on at least one revival each season, and this was it in ’92. I. M. Hobson’s blustery portrayal as the insufferable Sheridan Whiteside brought both helium and hell-raising to this brisk take on Kaufman and Hart’s venerable show.

“Noah Johnson Had a Whore,” South Coast Repertory: A black comedy as dark as the underside of a coffin. Written by Jon Bastian and directed by Martin Benson, this new play about graveside profiteering during the Civil War was a vital and clever addition to the Second Stage.

“Hamlet,” Shakespeare Orange County: A solid and often complex first-season offering for Thomas Bradac’s fledgling troupe. Bradac, who was ousted as head of GroveShakespeare in 1991, showed that there’s room for two Orange County companies devoted to the classics.

SMALL AND COMMUNITY

“An Enemy of the People,” Laguna Playhouse: Ibsen’s drama about pollution and politics registered strongly in Laguna Beach, a community facing its own questions concerning progress and the environment.

“Into the Woods,” Buena Park Civic Theatre: This outdoor staging was colorful and spirited, but nonetheless managed to locate the ironic subtexts of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s unusual musical.

“The Colored Museum,” Long Beach Playhouse: Although obviously put together on a bargain budget--the cutout sets and meager props were distracting--this production compensated with intelligent acting that sharpened the play’s provocative edge.

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE

“The Threepenny Opera,” UC Irvine: A vivid staging for the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill classic, especially intriguing for its use of Michael Feingold’s little-known, more contemporary translation.

“The Heidi Chronicles,” Orange Coast College: The drama department presented a generally mature and amusing view of a woman growing up brainy but confused in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The student cast was uneven in handling Wendy Wasserstein’s characters, but Lynn Laguna was surprisingly sure of herself in the title role.